Ursa Major

[ ur-suh mey-jer ]

noun

, Astronomy.

, genitive Ur·sae Ma·jor·is [ur, -see m, uh, -, jawr, -is, -, johr, -].

1. the Great Bear, the most prominent northern constellation, containing the seven stars that form the Big Dipper.

Ursa Major

/ ˈɜːsə ˈmeɪdʒə /

noun

1. an extensive conspicuous constellation in the N hemisphere, visible north of latitude 40°. The seven brightest stars form the Plough. A line through the two brightest stars points to the Pole Star lying in Ursa Minor Also calledthe Great Bearthe Bear

Ursa Major

/ ûr′sə /

1. A constellation in the polar region of the Northern Hemisphere near Draco and Leo. Ursa Major (the Great Bear) contains the seven stars that form the Big Dipper.

Ursa Major

1. A constellation ; the Great Bear. ( See Big Dipper .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Ursa Major¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Word History and Origins

Origin of Ursa Major¹

Latin: greater bear

Example Sentences

Ursa Major’s head extends from the top of the ladle and the legs pop off the bottom of the ladle.

From Outside Online

Even novice stargazers can easily pick out the shape, part of the Ursa Major constellation.

From Science News

I imagine to myself the scowl of your spiritual eye upon the profanity of that scurrilous Ursa Major.

From Project Gutenberg

The principal stars composing it are very bright and unmistakable as the constellation of Ursa Major.

From Project Gutenberg

About this time Mary met Ursa Major, who may have treated men very rudely, but not your petite, animated and clever women.

From Project Gutenberg

The first double star discovered was Mizar, the middle star of the three in Ursa Major which form the tail of the bear.

From Project Gutenberg

Mizar, in the constellation Ursa Major, is a beautiful double star.

From Project Gutenberg